Ranger set for court over criminal damage, assault claim dropped

NILE Ranger has been charged by Wiltshire Police for one count of criminal damage after questioning at Gablecross station in Swindon yesterday.

Police have also confirmed Ranger has been remanded in custody and will appear at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Ranger will face no further action on an assault allegation and the woman seen to be struck three times in the CCTV footage – which emerged over the weekend – has been identified and spoken to by officers.

Swindon Town also, last night, confirmed their striker will face a disciplinary hearing on Thursday.

Swindon Town supporters, meanwhile, have called for him to be sacked.

The 23-year-old is alleged to be the man seen hitting a woman three times and kicking a security door down in CCTV footage at a property in Gordon Gardens, in the town centre.

Town chairman Lee Power and manager Mark Cooper met for talks on Ranger yesterday.

The club later said: “Meetings have taken place between senior members of the club and, having consulted with the various football bodies, the club have invited Nile Ranger to attend a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, 1st May 2014 to take place at The County Ground.

“The club have contacted Nile informing him of this meeting. Meanwhile, an investigation is being carried out.

“The club have provided Nile with reasonable notice of this disciplinary meeting to allow him the opportunity to state his case.”

Roger Bunce, chairman of Swindon Town Supporters Club, said the club has no option but to sack the striker.

“It’s so disappointing. He’s been given chance after chance and he’s not going to get many more. He doesn’t appreciate how lucky he is with the job that he’s got,” he said.

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“He can’t keep doing these things and expect to get sympathy. The manager of the football club has done so much to try and help him.

“He doesn’t seem to want the help. It’s such a shame.

“He’s an asset to the team when he’s playing, but he can’t keep being a law unto himself, turning up to training when he wants.

“They (Power and Cooper) should pie him off and let him go. It’s a shame because of his playing ability.”

The police were contacted last Wednesday by Mainstay, the firm which manages Ranger’s block of flats, to report criminal damage at the address. The damage is said to be worth £2,000.

Ranger is due to appear before Newport Magistrates Court on May 12 on drink-drive charges.

The 6ft 2ins forward pleaded not guilty to the charge on March 11, when he was accused of having 50 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath when arrested at 7.15am on February 2 at Junction 23 of the M4.

Ranger signed for Town from Newcastle on a one-year deal in August, with the option to extend for another year.

...AND HE COULD FACE EVICTION

NILE Ranger could face eviction from his penthouse flat in Gordon Gardens if it is proven to be him in CCTV footage which shows a man kicking a door down at the property.

Richard James, a letting agency responsible for several flats at the town centre block, said the damage caused may well give reason to have the perpetrator evicted.

A spokesman said: “If it was our tenant we would speak to the landlord.
“If they were damaging the property, then yes, eviction would be an option, but it would be the landlord’s decision.”

Mainstay, the firm responsible for repairing the damage caused in the CCTV, revealed repair costs would hit all leaseholders in the pocket and not the perpetrator alone.

A spokesman for the management company, which handed over the footage to police initially, said its fees come from a central pot of money made up of service charges from all leaseholders at the premises.